Letters to the editor for Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Published: Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 5:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, December 3, 2012 at 4:47 p.m.

I am responding to a recent letter in The News-Journal, "A misinformed vote?" which asks what people were thinking when they voted for Jason Davis as county chair.

I can tell the writer exactly what I was thinking when my vote was not cast for Carl Persis, despite the fact that he's "a solid, proven individual," as the letter described him.

Decisions Carl Persis made as a councilman did not convince me that he was on the taxpayers' side — among them his favoritism for a developer, shown by his vote for permission to build a mobile home community in a surrounding area that has no such homes. This tract of land was zoned for stick-built houses which would have netted the county millions more in taxes. The opposition to this zoning change was strong, with petitions, letters, emails and phone calls, but it was clear his decision had been made. As a result of this zoning change, the county will lose millions in tax revenue.

The writer continues that Jason Davis has no knowledge in the operation of a large government. May I ask what experience former Sen. Barack Obama had to become head and commander in chief of a nation with more than 300 million people?

IRENE NEESE

Ormond Beach

Understanding Palestinians

A recent letter portrayed the plight of Israelis being bombarded by Hamas rockets. Your readers deserve another perspective.

Having experienced the 1944 assault by V2 missiles on London, I can empathize with the psychological trauma generated by such unpredictable weapons. Carrying two-ton warheads, the supersonic missiles exploded before we heard them coming — no warning! Brits endured more than 1,000 of these, because years earlier they had taken up arms against the invaders of Poland and perpetrators of the Holocaust.

When the United Nations partitioned Palestine in 1947, the north border of Gaza was set near the latitude of Jerusalem. Then the 1949 Israel-Egypt Armistice, over which the Palestinians had no control, essentially bisected the strip. The agreement stipulated that the demarcation line was not to be construed as a political or military boundary. In 2008, Gazans began launching primitive rockets toward the occupiers of land that was filched from them. They also lost a long, wide arm stretching southeast, so their current territory is about 20 percent of its original area.

The consequence is an intensely crowded citizenry, many of whom are refugees from former Palestinian homelands. Cause for complaint and consideration, I guess. The writer applauded Israel for leaving Gaza in 2005, giving back what it had hijacked — how generous.

Condemnation of Hamas violence should accompany recognition that Zionists got results via terrorism, as I know from personal experience in Palestine. Their leaders, Menachem Begin and Yitzahk Shamir, became Israeli prime ministers and were welcomed by our politicians, who refuse to even talk to Hamas representatives. Future historians, uninfluenced by pro-Israel lobbyists, wil find it hard to eschew the words "double standard."

Israel's self-declared statehood on May 14, 1948, was accepted by President Truman within 15 minutes. After 64 years, Palestinians are stateless. It's a double standard in extremis. What did they do to deserve this?

HORACE HONE

Palm Coast

A troubling development

Just like other good people, I am deeply concerned by the vote in the United Nations that upgraded the Palestinians to nonmember observer status. While the ramifications of the vote will continue to unfold, most share the view of the Obama administration and Israeli government that actions through the Israeli-obsessed United Nations are no substitute for direct negotiations, and are ultimately counterproductive to the peace process.

Even though the result of the U.N. vote proved inevitable, tremendous credit is due to the current administration for making an abundantly clear case against the resolution and stating, loudly and clearly, that the path to peace runs through direct negotiations. Since his re-election, as well as during the preceding four years of his first term, President Obama has vocally stood up for Israel's right to defend itself and he has personally condemned Hamas' rocket attacks.

Much credit goes to President Obama's signature contribution to Israel's defense, the Iron Dome, which saved thousands of Israeli lives and earned praise and thanks from Israeli leaders. We should think that these recent actions should cause the naysayers in our Congress to rethink their accusations that our president would not be pro-Israel during his second term. All Americans and other good people, reflecting on the events of November 2012, should thank and respect what President Obama has done.

LARRY BABITTS

Ormond Beach

Seek fairness and peace

I agree with a recent letter writer that it would be horrible for anybody to live under the threat of being targeted by rockets. Israel has the right to defend itself. But the damage caused by the Israelis to Gaza is brutal and completely unacceptable. One can only imagine what it would be like to be a grandmother in Gaza, digging in the rubble to find her dead grandchild. That is by far the worst nightmare.

There are always two sides to every story. I am not taking sides; both parties are responsible for the atrocities that they inflict on one another. I have always been sympathetic to the Jewish people for their suffering, particularly in World War II. However, I am also sympathetic to the Palestinians for the treatment they have received for more than 50 years.

The majority of the Jewish people are for a settlement and a permanent peace. However, extremists dominate Israel's position. The late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin knew the importance of peace, having served as a soldier in the 1967 war. Unfortunately, he was assassinated by a young Israeli extremist before he was able to accomplish his goal.

It is well-known that Hamas is not easy to deal with. However, the organization still represents the Palestinians. Israel's refusal to recognize it as the legitimate government of Palestine was a very big mistake.

I consider myself a progressive or liberal in my politics, and I feel I have more friends and allies in the American Jewish community than in any other group. I hope I am not labeled anti-Semitic because of my point of view. The most important thing I want to emphasize is that humanity has no color, no religion, no borders, no ethnicity. We are all brothers and sisters of the world.

<p class="bold allcaps">Explanation for a vote</p>
<p>I am responding to a recent letter in The News-Journal, "A misinformed vote?" which asks what people were thinking when they voted for Jason Davis as county chair. </p><p>I can tell the writer exactly what I was thinking when my vote was <i>not</i> cast for Carl Persis, despite the fact that he's "a solid, proven individual," as the letter described him. </p><p>Decisions Carl Persis made as a councilman did not convince me that he was on the taxpayers' side &mdash; among them his favoritism for a developer, shown by his vote for permission to build a mobile home community in a surrounding area that has no such homes. This tract of land was zoned for stick-built houses which would have netted the county millions more in taxes. The opposition to this zoning change was strong, with petitions, letters, emails and phone calls, but it was clear his decision had been made. As a result of this zoning change, the county will lose millions in tax revenue. </p><p>The writer continues that Jason Davis has no knowledge in the operation of a large government. May I ask what experience former Sen. Barack Obama had to become head and commander in chief of a nation with more than 300 million people?</p><p><b>IRENE NEESE</p><p>Ormond Beach</p><p></b></p><h3>Understanding Palestinians</h3>
<p>A recent letter portrayed the plight of Israelis being bombarded by Hamas rockets. Your readers deserve another perspective. </p><p>Having experienced the 1944 assault by V2 missiles on London, I can empathize with the psychological trauma generated by such unpredictable weapons. Carrying two-ton warheads, the supersonic missiles exploded before we heard them coming &mdash; no warning! Brits endured more than 1,000 of these, because years earlier they had taken up arms against the invaders of Poland and perpetrators of the Holocaust. </p><p>When the United Nations partitioned Palestine in 1947, the north border of Gaza was set near the latitude of Jerusalem. Then the 1949 Israel-Egypt Armistice, over which the Palestinians had no control, essentially bisected the strip. The agreement stipulated that the demarcation line was not to be construed as a political or military boundary. In 2008, Gazans began launching primitive rockets toward the occupiers of land that was filched from them. They also lost a long, wide arm stretching southeast, so their current territory is about 20 percent of its original area. </p><p>The consequence is an intensely crowded citizenry, many of whom are refugees from former Palestinian homelands. Cause for complaint and consideration, I guess. The writer applauded Israel for leaving Gaza in 2005, giving back what it had hijacked &mdash; how generous. </p><p>Condemnation of Hamas violence should accompany recognition that Zionists got results via terrorism, as I know from personal experience in Palestine. Their leaders, Menachem Begin and Yitzahk Shamir, became Israeli prime ministers and were welcomed by our politicians, who refuse to even talk to Hamas representatives. Future historians, uninfluenced by pro-Israel lobbyists, wil find it hard to eschew the words "double standard." </p><p>Israel's self-declared statehood on May 14, 1948, was accepted by President Truman within 15 minutes. After 64 years, Palestinians are stateless. It's a double standard in extremis. What did they do to deserve this?</p><p><b>HORACE HONE</p><p>Palm Coast</b></p><h3>A troubling development</h3>
<p>Just like other good people, I am deeply concerned by the vote in the United Nations that upgraded the Palestinians to nonmember observer status. While the ramifications of the vote will continue to unfold, most share the view of the Obama administration and Israeli government that actions through the Israeli-obsessed United Nations are no substitute for direct negotiations, and are ultimately counterproductive to the peace process. </p><p>Even though the result of the U.N. vote proved inevitable, tremendous credit is due to the current administration for making an abundantly clear case against the resolution and stating, loudly and clearly, that the path to peace runs through direct negotiations. Since his re-election, as well as during the preceding four years of his first term, President Obama has vocally stood up for Israel's right to defend itself and he has personally condemned Hamas' rocket attacks. </p><p>Much credit goes to President Obama's signature contribution to Israel's defense, the Iron Dome, which saved thousands of Israeli lives and earned praise and thanks from Israeli leaders. We should think that these recent actions should cause the naysayers in our Congress to rethink their accusations that our president would not be pro-Israel during his second term. All Americans and other good people, reflecting on the events of November 2012, should thank and respect what President Obama has done.</p><p><b>LARRY BABITTS</p><p>Ormond Beach</b></p><h3>Seek fairness and peace</h3>
<p>I agree with a recent letter writer that it would be horrible for anybody to live under the threat of being targeted by rockets. Israel has the right to defend itself. But the damage caused by the Israelis to Gaza is brutal and completely unacceptable. One can only imagine what it would be like to be a grandmother in Gaza, digging in the rubble to find her dead grandchild. That is by far the worst nightmare. </p><p>There are always two sides to every story. I am not taking sides; both parties are responsible for the atrocities that they inflict on one another. I have always been sympathetic to the Jewish people for their suffering, particularly in World War II. However, I am also sympathetic to the Palestinians for the treatment they have received for more than 50 years. </p><p>The majority of the Jewish people are for a settlement and a permanent peace. However, extremists dominate Israel's position. The late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin knew the importance of peace, having served as a soldier in the 1967 war. Unfortunately, he was assassinated by a young Israeli extremist before he was able to accomplish his goal. </p><p>It is well-known that Hamas is not easy to deal with. However, the organization still represents the Palestinians. Israel's refusal to recognize it as the legitimate government of Palestine was a very big mistake. </p><p>I consider myself a progressive or liberal in my politics, and I feel I have more friends and allies in the American Jewish community than in any other group. I hope I am not labeled anti-Semitic because of my point of view. The most important thing I want to emphasize is that humanity has no color, no religion, no borders, no ethnicity. We are all brothers and sisters of the world.</p><p><b>PANOS STROUMPIS</p><p>Daytona Beach Shores</b></p>